Stationary RV Living: 7 Excellent Tips for Getting the Most Out of It

This article may contain compensated links, please read our disclaimer for more information.

Due to a series of unfortunate events, my family is stuck sitting still in our RV for the next several months. Normally we travel and we live in an RV to travel, so this is not the easiest thing we’ve ever done. That said, we have found ways to make the most out of stationary RV living.

Whether stationary RV living is something you are doing by choice or out of necessity, I highly recommend you find ways to do the same. Here are my tips for doing just that.

Head Somewhere You Love

First and foremost, if you have the option, head to a place you love. Try to find someplace with a great community, great weather, and plenty of things to see and do.

Everyone wants to live in a wonderful area, but not everyone can afford it. Because the cost of living is lower in an RV, it is actually possible to live in places you may not have access to otherwise. Why not take advantage of that fact?

Make Your Home Your Own

Whether you have an older RV or a brand new one, we’re betting it isn’t exactly full of character. Since you’ll be in the RV for a while, why not make the place your own?

Adding rugs, throw pillows, a new shower curtain, and some wall decor can make a huge difference. Putting up a peel-and-stick backsplash, changing the faucets, and switching out the cabinet hardware are also pretty easy and will make the place feel more like home.

Creating a space you love is the perfect way to make your tiny home feel as cozy as possible, and stationary RV living lends itself to making modifications much more than the travel lifestyle does. I know I’ve taken advantage of sitting still to make some changes to our trailer!

Save Money

For us, one of the best things about being stationary in our RV is that we are able to save a lot of money. Not moving means we save a ton on fuel costs, and the fact that we happen to be in an area with a low cost of living means groceries cost less as well. We don’t spend much on attractions since we have already seen a lot of what this area has to offer, so instead we take advantage of free community activities.

If you’re diving into stationary RV living after living in a house, you are likely to find that you spend much less on campground fees than you did on rent and utilities. The fact that your living space is smaller also forces you to really think about any new stuff you may buy.

We plan to use the money we save to get a more relatable rig and hit the road again at the end of the year, but you can use the funds for whatever you like.

Use Your Campsite

You may be living in a teeny tiny space, but that doesn’t have to mean living uncomfortably. Use your campsite to expand upon your living space so you can spread out:

• If you’re allowed, set up a Clam Tent or even a small shed where you can store things or hang out.
• Invest in good camp chairs and other items to create a comfortable campsite.
• Put together a small container garden.
• Get the kids some outdoor toys to play with on your campsite.

Befriend Your Neighbors

One of the best things about stationary RV living? A chance to make friends with the other stationary RVers in your campground. RV parks are the best kind of neighborhood. Many times, campgrounds will host community events such as pool parties, cookouts, and bingo nights. Go to these events, meet people, and enjoy living in a tight-knit community that is there for one another!

If transient campers pass through your campground, you may also want to seize the opportunity to meet some travelers. Not only will you gain even more friends, you’ll also have people to visit when you head out on vacation or if you ever hit the road full time yourself.

Work Where You Live

Workamping (“work camping”) is an amazing experience, and if you enjoy being outside and meeting new people, you might want to look into it. Many campgrounds look for people to live in their park while doing things like site maintenance, running the camp store, and checking people in. Sometimes this work is in exchange for a site, and other times the job includes hourly pay as well.

If you aren’t working already or you have extra time on your hands, this could be a great way to increase your income, cut back even more on living costs, and connect even more with your RV community.

Be Active in the Community

Finally, I highly recommend becoming/staying active in the local community outside of your campground. Our months sitting still have been spent really diving into the local community, and it has been fantastic.

Being out singing karaoke with newfound friends, rehearsing for plays at the local community theater, participating in free fencing and tumbling lessons, etc. has kept us out of our tiny home, making it feel a lot less constricting. It’s also been great for us coming from the full time traveling lifestyle, as it’s given us a chance to experience something different for a while.

Traveling full time RVers may get to see lots of places, and sure, they have their RV community. That said, one of the biggest benefits of being a stationary RVer rather than a traveler is the fact that you can plug into a local community, so do it!

As you can see, there are lots of ways to make stationary RV living into an awesome and beneficial adventure. No matter your reason for stationary RV living, you can use these ideas to make the most of your tiny living situation and live your best life.

Fulltime Families is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.